Adjustable earring



Sept. 10, 1968 J. P. WALSH ET AL 3,400,556

ADJUSTABLE EARRING Filed Dec. 6, 1965 f z/m E W 60 a INVENTORS JOHN F? WALSH JOHN A. VELINO United States Patent ()fitice 3,400,555 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 ADJUSTABLE EARRING John P. Walsh, Warwick, and John A. Velino, Providence, R.I., assignors to Tri-Bro Tool Co., Inc., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,866 6 Claims. (Cl. 63-14) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An earring construction of the nonpiercing type that is adapted to simulate a piercing action and that includes an inner member on which an outer member is mounted, the inner and outer members having relative movement and having openings formed therein through which the ear lobe of the wearer is insertable, the relative movement between the members providing for securement of the earring on the wearers ear lobe and for producing the simulated piercing appearance.

The present invention relates to an adjustable earring. More particularly, the present invention relates to an earring that comprises interfitting ring members that are rotatable with respect to each other for frictionally mounting the earring on the ear lobe of the wearer.

The clamp type of earring is normally adjustable on the wearers ear by providing a screw member that is movable relative to the finding on which the ornamental portion of the earring is mounted. Other types of adjustable earring constructions have been utilized heretofore but have been either impractical or relativelyexpensive so as to prohibit the commercial use thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable earring of simple construction that is ornamental in appearance and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable earring that is comprised of a pair of ring members that are rotatable with respect to each other so as to vary openings formed therein to produce a clamping action when the earring is mounted on the ear lobe of a wearer. I

Another object is to provide an adjustable earring that includes an inner member having an opening formed therein and an outer member mounted on the inner member and having an opening formed therein, the members being movable relative to each other to vary the size of the openings therein, thereby producing an adjustable opening for exerting pressure on the ear lobe of the wearer that is received in the openings of the members.

Another object is to provide an adjustable earring having relatively movable inner and outer members, a spring means being disposed between the members for exerting a frictional dragtherebetween, so that the members may be moved relative to each other for location in the required position when the earring is mounted on the earlobe of a wearer.

Another object is to provide an adjustable earring having an inner and outer member formed with aligned openings therein for receiving a wearers ear lobe, relative movement of the members providing for frictional mounting of the earring on the wearers ear lobe and further simulating the appearance of a piercing type of earring.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the acompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the adjustable earring embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the adjustable earring;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts embodied in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of the adjustable earring embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The earring 10 includes an outer ornamental member 12 that is formed in a ring-like configuration but that is cut out to form an opening that is defined by spaced free ends 14 and 16. The outer ornamental member 12 may be formed of any suitable material, although, as illustrated herein, it is molded of a plastic material. As shown in FIG. 2, the inside surface of the outer ornamental member 12 is somewhat convex as seen in cross section, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described. The outer surface of the ornamental member 12 may have any suitable shape and may be ornamented, as preferred by the wearer.

Disposed interiorly of the outer ornamental member 12 is an inner member generally indicated at 18 that is also substantially ring-like in configuration and that is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the outer ornamental member 12 thereon. In this connection, the peripheral edges of the inner member 18 are formed with flanges 20 between which the outer member 12 is received, the flanges 20 thereby preventing lateral displacement of the outer member 12 with respect to the inner member 18. In order to positively receive the outer member 12 thereon, the outer surface of the inner member 18 is somewhat concave in configuration as seen in cross section and conforms to the convex configuration of the inner surface of the outer member 12. The outer member 12 thus engages the inner member 18 in frictional relation with respect thereto. It is seen that the outer member 12 is movable relative to the inner member 18, the frictional relation therebetween providing a frictional drag between the members during the relative movement thereof. The members may thus be located in positive position regardless of the relative movement therebetween.

The inner member 18 which, as illustrated, is also ring-like in configuration, is further provided with an opening therein that corresponds to the opening formed in the outer member 12. The opening in the inner member 18 is defined by spaced ends 22 and 24, and, as seen in FIG. 1, these ends are curled to define pads 26 that prevent irritation of the wearers ear lobe when the earring is mounted thereon. Although other materials may be employed, as illustrated herein, the inner member is formed of metal.

In use, the openings formed in the outer member 12 and inner member 18 are normally aligned. In this position, the earring 10 can be mounted on the ear lobe of the wearer, the ear lobe extending through the aligned openings formed in the outer and inner members. With the wearers ear lobe extending through the aligned openings, the outer and inner members are then moved relative to each other to restrict the openings so that pressure is exerted on the ear lobe by the ends of the members, thereby capturing the ear lobe therebetween. The earring 10 is thus frictionally mounted on the wearers ear, and it is seen that because of the manner of capturing the ear lobe within the openings of the outer and inner members, a piercing effect is produced. The frictional relationship of the outer and inner members 12 and 18 effectively retains the members in the mounting position and is sufficient to positively locate the earring 10 on the wearers earlobe.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 6, a modified form of the earring is illustrated and is generally indicated at 30. The earring 30 is substantially similar to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes an outer member generally indicated at 32 and an inner member generally indicated at 34. The outer member 32 is designed to be ornamental in appearance, and for this purpose, the outer surface thereof may be ornamented in any suitable manner or may be formed with ornamental details as required. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner surface of the outer member 32 is concave in configuration, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the outer member 32, which is ring-like in construction, is also formed with an opening that is defined by the spaced free ends 36 and 38.

The inner member 34 of the earring 39 is formed similarly to the inner member 18 described above and, as shown, is ring-like in configuration, terminating in spaced free ends 38 and 40 that define an opening therebetween. The free ends 38 and 40 are rolled or curled to form pads 42 that prevent irritation of the ear lobe of the wearer of the earring. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer member 32 is received on the inner member 34 in telescoping relation thereon, and in order to prevent lateral displacement of the outer member 32, side flanges 44 are joined to the inner member 34 and substantially confine the outer member therebetween.

Unlike the friction fit of the members 12 and 18 described above in connection with the earring 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an intermediate leaf spring 46 is interposed between the outer member 32 and inner member 34 of the earring 30 and imparts a frictional drag therebetween. In order to accommodate the leaf spring 46 between the inner and outer elements 32, 34, the inner member 34 has substantially a flat cross sectional configuration that cooperates with the concave configuration of the outer member 32 to define an annular space 48 that receives the spring 46 therein. As seen in FIG. 4, the spring 46 is bent to define elbows 50 and 52 and ends 54 and 56, the elbows and bent ends defining friction areas that engage the inner surface of the outer member 32. The inner member bears against the flat portions of the spring, which thus provides for relative movement of the inner and outer members but insures that relative movement therebetween will locate the members in a positive position.

In use of the earring as illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6, the openings formed in the inner and outer elements are aligned for receiving the ear lobe of the wearer that is indicated in phantom at 53 in FIG. 4. With the ear lobe received within the aligned openings, the members 32 and 34 are moved relative to each other to reduce the openings, wherein pressure is exerted on the ear lobe by 4' the ends of the members for capturing the ear lobe in the spaces defined thereby. The earring 30 is thus securely mounted on the ear lobe of the wearer in positive position. The engagement of the free ends of the members against the ear lobe further imparts a piercing effect to the mounted earring.

It is further contemplated that the earring illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 be modified to accommodate a spring of the type illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6. In this connection, the inner member 18 would have an annular groove formed in the outer surface thereof for accommodating the spring. The spring would then bear against the plastic outer member 12 for creating a frictional drag between the outer and inner members.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an earring, an inner member having a circular ring-like configuration and including free ends that are spaced apart to define an opening therebetween, an outer ornamental member having a circular ring-like configuration and including free ends that are spaced apart to define an opening therebetween, said outer member being mounted on said inner member for relative movement therebetween, the openings in said members being normally aligned for receiving an ear lobe of a wearer, said members being movable relative to each other to reduce said openings so that pressure is exerted on said ear lobe by the ends of said members that define the openings, wherein said earring is securely mounted on said ear lobe, a spring being interposed between said members so as to impose a frictional relationship therebetween and for resisting relative movement of said members.

2. In an earring as set forth in claim 1, said spring being in the form of a leaf spring, the surfaces of which engage the inner surfaces of said outer member and the outer surfaces of said inner member.

3. In an earring as set forth in claim 2, the inner surface of said outer member being concave in cross section, and the outer surface of said inner member being relatively fiat, wherein an annular space is defined between the inner and outer members for accommodating said spring therein.

4. In an earring, an inner member having a circular ring-like configuration and including free ends that are spaced apart to define an opening therebetween, the ringlike inner member including flanges joined to the peripheral edges thereof that form an annular channel interrupted only by said opening, an outer ornamental member having a circular ring-like configuration and including free ends that are spaced apart to define an opening therebetween, the outer member being mounted on said inner member for relative movement therebetween, the lateral dimension of said outer member being such that the peripheral edges thereof are confined within the channel as defined by the flanges formed on said inner member, the openings in said members being alignable for receiving an ear lobe of a wearer therein, and said members having relative movement with respect to each other so as to reduce the openings and to exert suflicient pressure on said ear lobe by the ends of said members to securely mount the earring on the wearers ear lobe.

5. In an earring as set forth in claim 4, the inner surface of said outer member being in direct contact with the adjacent outer surface of said inner member, so as to be in frictional engagement therewith, wherein relative movement of said members produces a frictional drag therebetween to positively locate said members at the position to which they are moved.

6. In an earring as set forth in claim 5, the outer surface of said inner member being concave in cross section and the inner surface of said outer member being convex in cross section and being received in said concave surface in face-to-face engaging relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1965 Girard 33s 22 15 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 830,311 1913 Great Britain. 21,311 1914 Netherlands.

161,942 3/ 1955 Australia.

530,151 7/1954 Belgium.

OTHER REFERENCES Francl, Francois, German DAS, No. 1,145,890, published Mar. 21, 1963, 2 pp. Spec.

Carbide and Carbon Chem. Corp., Carbowax and Polyethylene Glycol, 1946, p. 5.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

